Windows 11 gets revamped UI — see how the design changed from Windows 10

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By Phillip Tracy
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Windows 11 uses rounded corners, updated icons and more transparency

Windows 11
(Image credit: Microsoft)

Windows 11 was revealed today, beginning a new generation for the most popular desktop and laptop operating system. 

The successor to Windows 10, Windows 11 brings a refreshed UI with a new Start Menu, Taskbar, Widgets and more. There are visual similarities to Windows 10 but Windows 11 modernizes the OS with Microsoft's Fluent design language. 

Windows 11

(Image credit: Microsoft)

One of the more noticeable changes was made by swapping sharp corners for rounded ones. This gives the OS a softer, less aggressive aesthetic. The design choice may not be embraced by all users, but to us, it gives Windows 11 a welcoming appearance. 

Microsoft also updated the animations so side panels look like a sheet of glass sliding across the screen. Extending the transparency effect to more interfaces makes colors pop more in Windows 11, and to that end, Microsoft updated legacy icons to be more playful. 

Windows 11 Android apps

(Image credit: Microsoft)

The Taskbar was revamped and is now center-aligned instead of being on the left edge. Press on the Start Menu icon and you'll notice a few changes. For one, the menu appears in the center of the screen in a floating dialogue box. It also ditches Live Tiles for a uniform transparent background with static icons in the foreground.

Windows 11

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Dark Mode and Light Mode make a return on Windows 11 and look much better on the OS. You can choose from different themes and switch accent colors that follow you throughout the interfaces. A new Widgets tool on the Taskbar brings up a personalized feed showing you news, weather, and other information that is important to you. 

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We know the File Explorer is receiving an overhaul thanks to a clip showing a brief glimpse of the overhauled file management app, however, the outdated Control Panel was absent from Microsoft's Windows 11 reveal. The Settings menu also looks much better than it did before having adopted Fluent Design elements including a transparent background, colorful graphics and a simple, clean interface. 

For more Windows 11 coverage, visit the links below. 

Windows 11 news and updates

Phillip Tracy
Phillip Tracy

Phillip Tracy is the assistant managing editor at Laptop Mag where he reviews laptops, phones and other gadgets while covering the latest industry news. After graduating with a journalism degree from the University of Texas at Austin, Phillip became a tech reporter at the Daily Dot. There, he wrote reviews for a range of gadgets and covered everything from social media trends to cybersecurity. Prior to that, he wrote for RCR Wireless News covering 5G and IoT. When he's not tinkering with devices, you can find Phillip playing video games, reading, traveling or watching soccer.